f war。 Her apartments also are full of such things。 I will write to our lord to send an intermediary to arrange that the lady shall wed Liu Bei at her family home； and thus we shall entice Liu Bei to Nanxu。 But instead of marrying a wife； Liu Bei will find himself a prisoner； and then we will demand Jingzhou as ransom。 When they have handed over the region； I shall find something else to say and nothing will fall on your head。〃
Lu Su was very grateful。 Then Zhou Yu wrote letters to his master； and a swift boat was chosen to take Lu Su to see the Marquis of Wu。
After the lending of Jingzhou had been discussed； Lu Su presented the document given him by Liu Bei。
〃What is the use of such nonsense as this？〃 said Sun Quan； when he had read it。
〃There is another letter from General Zhou Yu。 And he says that if you will employ his scheme； you can recover Jingzhou；〃 replied Lu Su。
Having read that letter； Sun Quan was more pleased and began to consider who was the best person to send。
Suddenly he cried； 〃I have it。 Lu Fan is the man to send。〃
Sun Quan called Lu Fan and said to him； 〃I have just heard that Liu Bei has lost his wife。 I have a sister whom I should like to marry to him and so make a bond of union between our two houses。 Thus we should be united against Cao Cao and in support of the House of Han。 You are the one man to be intermediary； and I hope you will go to Jingzhou and see to this。〃
Under these orders； Lu Fan at once began to prepare his ships for the voyage and soon started。
Liu Bei was greatly distressed at the death of Lady Gan； fretting for her day and night。 One day when he was talking with his adviser； they announced the arrival of Lu Fan who had e on a mission from the South Land。
〃One of Zhou Yu's devices；〃 said Zhuge Liang smiling； 〃and it is all on account of this region。 I will just retire behind the screen and listen。 But you； my lord； agree to whatever the messenger proposes。 Then let the messenger be taken to the guest…house while we arrange what is to be done。〃
So the envoy was introduced。 Bows having been exchanged； host and guest being seated in due order and the tea drunk； Liu Bei opened the interview。
〃You must have some mands for me； Sir； since you e thus。〃
〃News has just been received that you； O Imperial Uncle； have just been bereaved of your consort。 I venture to hope you would not object to an advantageous match； and I have e to propose one。 Are you disposed to listen？〃
〃To lose one's wife in middle age is truly a great misfortune；〃 said Liu Bei。 〃While her body is still warm； I cannot listen to proposals for another marriage。〃
＇e＇ Jin was a state that occupied the western part of the empire； in the mountainous area north of the Yellow River。 During the Spring and Autumn period； under the leadership of Duke Wen and his successors； Jin grew into a very large state； which broke into three states in the Warring States period。 Qin was a western…most state existed in both Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods。 Because Jin blocked its way to the east； Qin was shielded from the wars in the central plain。 Wars between Qin and Jin were not few； but intermarriages between the two houses were frequent； and this alliance strengthened both states。 。。。。。
Lu Fan said； 〃A man without a wife is like a house without a ridge pole。 At your age； one should not live an inplete life。 I am e on the part of Marquis Sun Quan； who has a sister； beautiful as she is； acplished and well fitted to be a mate for you。 Should the two families bee allied as formerly were Qin and Jin*； then that ruffian Cao Cao would never dare so much as look this way。 Such an alliance would be to the benefit of both our houses and of the state。 I hope； O Imperial Uncle； that you will fairly consider the proposal。 However； since the young girl's mother is dotingly fond of her； the mother does not wish her to go far away； and so I must ask you to e into our country for the wedding。〃
〃Does the Marquis know of your ing？〃
〃How dare I e without his knowledge？〃
〃I am no longer young；〃 said Liu Bei。 〃I am fifty and grizzled。 This fair damsel； the sister of the Marquis； is now in the flower of her youth and no mate for me。〃
〃Although the damsel is a woman； yet in mind she surpasses many a man； and she has said she will never wed anyone who is unknown to fame。 Now； Sir； you are renowned throughout the four seas。 Marriage with you would be the chaste maiden mating with the born gentleman。 Of what consequence is the difference in age？〃
〃Sir； stay here awhile； and I will give you a reply tomorrow；〃 said Liu Bei。
So that day the envoy was entertained at a banquet and then conducted to the guest…house to repose； while； late as it was； Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang discussed their plans。
〃I knew what he had e about；〃 said the adviser。 〃While he was talking； I consulted the oracle and obtained an excellent sign。 Wherefore you may accept the proposal and send Sun Qian back with this envoy to arrange the details。 When the promise has been ratified； we will choose a day and you shall go to plete the ceremony。〃
〃How can I thus go into enemy territory？ Zhou Yu has wanted to slay me for a long time。〃
〃Let Zhou Yu employ all his ruses。 Think you he can get beyond me？ Let me act for you； and his calculations will always fail halfway。 Once Sun Quan's sister is in your power； there will be no fear for Jingzhou。〃
Still Liu Bei doubted in his mind。 However； Sun Qian was sent to the South Land； with definite instructions； and traveled thither with Lu Fan。
At the interview Sun Quan said； 〃I wish my sister could induce Liu Bei to live here with us。 He would e to no harm。〃
Sun Qian took his leave。 And returning to Jingzhou； he told the bridegroom elect； saying； 〃Sun Quan's sole desire is for our lord to go over and plete the marriage。〃
However； Liu Bei feared and would not go。
Zhuge Liang said； 〃I have prepared three plans； but I need Zhao Yun to carry them out。 He will be sent as your guard。〃
So Zhuge Liang called in Zhao Yun； gave him three silken bags； and whispered in his ear； saying； 〃Here are three schemes enclosed in three bags。 When you escort our lord to the South Land； you will take these with you and act as they direct。〃
Zhao Yun hid the three silken bags in his breast so that they should be at hand when required。
Zhuge Liang next sent the wedding gifts； and when these had been received； the preliminaries were settled。
It was then the early winter of the fourteenth year of Rebuilt Tranquillity （AD 209）。 The bridegroom elect； his escort； and the intermediary left the city of Jingzhou with a fleet of ten fast ships to sail down the river to Nanxu。 Zhuge Liang remained to guard and rule the region。
But Liu Bei was far from feeling fortable。 They arrived and the ships were made fast。 This done； the time had e for the first of the silken bags to be opened。 And so it was。 Thereupon Zhao Yun gave each of his five hundred guards his instructions； and they went their several ways。 Next Zhao Yun told Liu Bei what he was to do： To pay his visit first to the State Patriarch Qiao； who was the father…in…law of Sun Ce and of Zhou Yu。
The State Patriarch Qiao resided in Nanxu and to his house； leading sheep and bearing wine jars； went the bridegroom elect。 Having made his obeisance； Liu Bei explained that as Lu Fan had arranged； he had e to marry a wife。
In the meantime the five hundred guards； all in gala dress； had scattered over the city place buying all sorts of things； as they said； for the wedding of Liu Bei with the daughter of the Sun House。 They spread the news far and wide and the whole town talked about it。
When Sun Quan heard of Liu Bei's arrival； he bade Lu Fan wait upon him and take him to the guest…house。 Meanwhile the State Patriarch Qiao went to the Dowager Marchioness； mother of Sun Quan； to congratulate her on the happy event。
〃What happy event？〃 ejaculated the old lady。
〃The betrothal of your beloved daughter to Liu Bei。 And he has arrived too； as surely you know。〃
〃My poor old self does not know；〃 said the Dowager。 〃I have heard nothing of all this。〃
She at once summoned her son and also sent her servants out into the town to see what was going about。
They quickly returned to say： 〃The whole city know of the ing wedding； and the bridegroom is now at the guest…house。 Moreover； he has e with a large escort； and they are spending freely； buying pork and mutton and fruits； all in readiness for the wedding feasting。 Lu Fan and Sun Qian are the intermediaries on each side； and they are in the guest…house too。〃
The Dowager Marchioness was terribly taken aback and upset so that； when Sun Quan arrived； he found his mother beating her breast and weeping bitterly。
〃What has disturbed you； Mother？〃 asked he。
〃What you have just done；〃 said she。 〃You have treated me as a nonentity。 When my elder sister lay dying； what did she tell you？〃
Sun Quan began to be frightened； but he said boldly； 〃Please speak out plainly； Mother。 What is this great sorrow？〃
〃When a son is grown； he takes a wife； and when a girl is old enough； she goes to her husband。 And that is right and proper。 But I am the mother； and you ought to have told me that your sister was to bee the wife of Liu Bei。 Why did you keep me in the dark？ It was my place to promise her in